Building a House

Roof, Windows, HVAC

This is part of a continuing series that journals our new home being built. Sharing our journey and tips we've learned along the way.
See all our journal entries.

The Roof Goes On

The framing has been completed and sheets of OSB (oriented strand board) are being nailed down for the roof. It
will be nice to enclose the house from all the rain we've been having.

The dormers look great. Mary and I have talked about installing lights in the dormer for aesthetic purposes.
Access will be difficult as they are located over the gable rafters. I can access them later from a closet
and could install a switch with timer to activate the lights.

Framing Close to Completion

Our coffered ceiling has been framed. Fashioned in a grid-type style, the inserts will be painted separately to give
our living area extra appeal. We are looking forward to that.

We do have a few framing issues but those will be resolved soon. It is important to visit your home often during
this time period. It's good to walk through the home with your building supervisor to point out any special
features that will be added later to ensure the framing is correct.

For example, we noted the following framing issues with our building supervisor.

The framing for the dining room was not totally correct. They actually framed an entire wall that is supposed to have an arched opening. This will be corrected.

Windows in the kitchen and in the 3rd bay garage were positioned several inches too high and will be
lowered.

The arched opening to the living area is not symmetrical and needs to be adjusted. Realize that
framing is not an exact science so don't expect perfection. However, for those features that will be seen
on a regular basis (or ones you know will drive you nuts if not corrected) should be noted and fixed to
your satisfaction.

Door framing to a storage area on the second floor still needs to be constructed.

These are all issues that will be resolved as construction progresses. Good building supervisors like ours will listen
to your concerns and do their best to build your home they way you want.

However, remember that almost all of what you see in framing will be covered by drywall or other materials. That is not to say it shouldn't be right
but there are degrees of "right". Don't fret over the little stuff. Not every 2x4 is going to be perfectly
straight nor will they be blemish free.

Windows with Grid Inserts

Most of the windows were installed this week and they look really nice with the grid inserts. We are loving the fact that we had extra windows put in since we have a wooded view. We know we are going to enjoy the extra light and view so much.

Plumbing and HVAC

The plumbing and HVAC have been installed also. Plumbing and HVAC is pretty standard unless you have special
requirements. If so, you will want to make sure they are installed according to your wishes.

As a rule of thumb, pay particular attention to any feature which is typically not standard. For the most part, building a house is basically
a repetitive task for most contractors; therefore, anything out of the ordinary should be checked.

We saw a few issues when the HVAC was being installed. Two were related to floor heating vent
locations and one concerned the package heating/cooling unit location. HVAC problems can be very difficult to fix later, so work with your building supervisor to get them corrected early on.

Next will come the electrical, insulation, and then the framing inspection.

Share Your Homebuilding Tips

We'd love to read your homebuilding tips and may share them with our readers. Please take a moment and
share your ideas.